August 31, 2012

Report: US downsizes military drill with Israel

Pentagon radically cuts back number of troops and amount of equipment that were slotted to be deployed to Israel in October for joint exercise, magazine reports
Ynet

A massive US-Israeli military exercise that was scheduled for this fall amid mounting concerns over an Israeli strike on Iran's nuclear facilities might not be as grand as it was initially expected to be, with Washington deciding to significantly scale back on its participation in the drill, Time Magazine reported on Friday, citing Israeli and American sources.

In January, the two countries decided to postpone the drill, but while it is expected to go forward this October – weeks prior to the presidential elections – it won't be nearly the same event.

According to the report, the US slashed the number of American troops who were slotted to travel to Israel by more than two-thirds; instead of the approximately 5,000 troops originally announced for Austere Challenge 12, as the exercise is dubbed, the Pentagon will send only 1,500 service members, and perhaps as few as 1,200.

The number and the potency of missile interception systems that were to be used in the maneuvers were also reduced. Patriot anti-missile systems will arrive in Israel as planned, the crews that can operate them won't. Instead of two Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense warships, only one is to be deployed – and even that is not certain, Time said, citing officials in both the US and Israeli militaries.

The report postulated that a smaller US deployment may make it more difficult for Israel launch a pre-emptive strike on the Islamic Republic.

"Basically what the Americans are saying is, ‘We don’t trust you,’” a senior Israeli military official told the magazine.

Curbing strike aspirations

A Pentagon spokesperson refused to comment on the reduced contingent, noting that the specifics are classified. But Commander Wendy L. Snyder of the US military said in an e-mail that Israel has been informed of the changes.

The official explanation was budget restrictions; however, the decision coincided with growing tensions between the Obama Administration and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government on Israel’s persistent threats attack Iran.

Israeli analyst Efraim Inbar told Time that the rationale for the retreat was quite clear.

“I think they don’t want to insinuate that they are preparing something together with the Israelis against Iran – that’s the message,” says Inbar, director of the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies at Bar-Ilan University. “Trust? We don’t trust them. They don’t trust us. All these liberal notions! Even a liberal president like Obama knows better.”

Assistant secretary of state Andrew J. Shapiro last November branded Austere Challenge as “by far the largest and most significant exercise in US-Israeli history.”

According to the report, the goal was to “improve interoperability” between American and Israeli anti-missile systems – which are already significantly linked. The US has intalled a radar in the Negev, pointed toward Iran and linked to Israel’s Arrow anti-missile system.

While the radar is so sensitive it can detect a softball thrown into the air from thousands of miles away, only American officials are allowed to see what’s on the screens, a safeguard likely meant to prevent Israel from striking Iran on its own – after all, the US' equipment can detect an Iranian missile six to seven minutes earlier than Israel’s best radar.

US Joint Chiefs chairman General Martin Dempsey told reporters in London this week that a military strike could damage but not destroy Iran’s nuclear capability, and added, “I don’t want to be complicit if they choose to do it.”

On Friday, the White House on reiterated President Barack Obama's commitment to Israel's security, claiming that the US' ties with Israel have never been closer.

"I can simply say that, under President Obama, cooperation with Israel between our military and intelligence communities has never been closer," White House Press Secretary Jay Carney told reporters.

"Assistance provided to Israel by the United States has never been greater than it has been under President Obama."
http://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/ArticleLayout/CdaArticlePrintPreview/1,2506,L-4275502,00.html
I am wondering if the friendship between America and Israel can survive four more years of Obama?

I am wondering with four more years of Obama how many American Jews will make aliyah and then mail back their passports with a hardy message attached?

MERF

For those who would like to hear me on the radio, I am very pleased to announce that I will be having a weekly appearance on the Middle East Radio Forum, the show is hosted By William Wolf.

The time of the show is 3pm EDT, 12 noon Pacific, 10pm Israel, every Sunday. Please feel free to call in if you have any questions about my weekly comments. If you should happen to miss the show then you can go to the MERF web page and listen to me and other guest in the archives.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu got into a diplomatic shouting match with US Ambassador Dan Shapiro over US President Barack Obama's handling of Iran's nuclear program, saying "time has run out" for diplomacy, Yediot Aharonot cited a source as saying on Friday.

According to the report, which the Jerusalem Post could not independently verify, the showdown took place as Netanyahu met with Shapiro and Republican Congressman Mike Rogers, who visited Israel earlier in the week.

A source that participated in the meeting said that a particularly angry and stressed Netanyahu began a tirade against the US president, attacking him for not doing enough on Iran. "Instead of pressuring Iran in an effective way, Obama and his people are pressuring us not to attack the nuclear facilities," the source quoted Netanyahu as saying.

Angered about continued US rhetoric that diplomacy needs more time to work, Netanyahu said flatly: "Time has run out," Yediot reported.

The American ambassador is said to have responded politely but firmly, telling Netanyahu that he was distorting Obama's position. Obama promised not to allow Iran to obtain nuclear weapons, he explained, and left all options on the table, including military options.

At that point, diplomatic sources told the paper, "sparks flew" in an escalating shouting match between Netanyahu and Shapiro as the stunned congressman watched.

Netanyahu and Obama may meet face-to-face on the sidelines of September's United Nations General Assembly meeting.

August 30, 2012

Dempsey: I don't want to be complicit in Israeli strike

Dempsey: I don't want to be complicit in Israeli strike

Chairman of joint chiefs of staff tells reporters in London he does not want to be 'complicit' if Israel decides to strike Iran's nuclear facilities – an attack which he believes won't stop Tehran's nuclear program
Yitzhak Benhorin

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey continues his efforts to prevent an Israeli strike in Iran. Reiterating his stance that the IDF cannot stop Iran's nuclear program, Dempsey added, "I don't want to be complicit if they (Israel) choose to do it."

Two weeks ago, the US general stressed that an Israeli strike against Iran's nuclear facilities could only delay its nuclear program. On Thursday, he adopted even tougher rhetoric, telling Britain's The Guardian that an attack would "clearly delay but probably not destroy Iran's nuclear program".

Dempsey said he did not know Iran's nuclear intentions, but noted that what was clear was that the "international coalition" applying pressure on Iran "could be undone if (Iran) was attacked prematurely".

Sanctions against Iran were having an effect, and they should be given a reasonable opportunity to succeed, he said.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4275247,00.html
Duly noted.

I am also sure that G-D has taken notice that you serve a Jew hating Marxist, rather than standing with Israel.

Iran has doubled it's nuke program since May of this year, so sanctions are working very well.

IAEA: Iran doubles underground nuclear capacity

UN watchdog quarterly report says number of centrifuges at Fordo facility more than doubled to 2,140 from 1,064 in May; new machines not yet operational
Reuters

Iran is preparing for a possible major expansion of uranium enrichment in a fortified underground facility, a UN nuclear watchdog report showed, underlining Tehran's defiance in the face of Western pressure and the threat of an Israeli attack.

The UN International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report also said "extensive activities" - a reference to suspected sanitisation efforts - at Iran's Parchin military complex would hamper its investigation of possible past nuclear weapons development work there, if inspectors were granted access.

The number of enrichment centrifuges at Fordo, buried deep inside a mountain to better protect it against any enemy strikes, had more than doubled to 2,140 from 1,064 in May, showed the quarterly report released on Thursday. However, the new machines were not yet operating, it said.

Iran, which denies developing nuclear weapons technology, says it needs this material to fuel a medical research reactor, but it also takes it significantly closer to making potential bomb material.

The report is likely to add to Western alarm about Iran's nuclear ambitions and may further fuel speculation that Israel might launch air strikes against Iranian nuclear sites.

Fordo, where Iran is refining uranium to a level that takes it significantly closer to weapons-grade material, is built to house roughly 3,000 centrifuges - machines that spin at supersonic speed to increase the fissile concentration.

The May report said Iran had installed a total of 1,064 centrifuges, of which 696 were operating, in some six cascades.

Iran says it needs this higher-grade uranium for a medical research reactor in Tehran. It is enriching uranium to lower levels at its main such plant in Natanz, where diplomats say it is also installing more centrifuges.

While the newly added centrifuges at Fordo are not yet operating, the expansion reaffirmed Iranian defiance of international demands to suspend enrichment, which can have both civilian and military uses depending on refinement level.

"There is reason to be concerned by increased tempo of enrichment, the larger stockpile of enriched uranium and, most importantly, the additional centrifuges installed in the deeply-buried facility at Fordo," said Mark Fitzpatrick of the International Institute of Strategic Studies think-tank.

It may reinforce the belief in Israel that diplomatic and economic pressure is failing to make the Islamic Republic curb its uranium enrichment program.

"We are closely studying the details of the report, but broadly speaking it is not surprising that Iran is continuing to violate its obligations," White House Press Secretary Jay Carney told reporters when asked about the report. "As the report illustrates, we are in a position to closely observe Iran's program," he said.

Carney said the US has made it clear to Iran that they have a limited window of time to stop its atomic work and diplomatic terms offered by the Western world will not remain open "indefinitely."

Iran denies allegations it seeks a nuclear weapons capability and says all its atom work is for peaceful purposes. It has threatened wide-ranging reprisals if attacked.

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on Thursday told heads of state from developing countries at a meting in Tehran that the country has no interest in nuclear weapons but will keep pursuing peaceful nuclear energy.
Sanction seem to be working really well, that is if you want Iran to nuke Israel.

Bibi has to know that it is alone and we have to hit Iran as hard as we can.

August 29, 2012

...
QUESTION: An Israeli court today ruled against the family of Rachel Corrie,
the American who was killed by a bulldozer in Gaza. Is the U.S. satisfied
with that investigation, and is the U.S. disappointed that the Israeli
military hasn’t taken responsibility for her death?

MS. NULAND: Well, first of all, we reiterate our condolences to the Corrie
family on the tragic death of their daughter, Rachel. As you know, we’ve
worked with the family all through this process, and we will continue to
provide consular support. We understand the family’s disappointment with the
outcome of the trial. Under Israeli law, the family has the right to appeal
the verdict, and we’ve seen reports that they are considering doing that. So
we will see how this proceeds going forward.

Please.

QUESTION: Can I follow up on that?

MS. NULAND: Yeah.

QUESTION: There are reports that her family at a press conference said that
Ambassador Dan Shapiro told them that he found the – he was finding the
investigation not to be transparent. Do you have any comment on that?

MS. NULAND: I was asked this question earlier this week. Beyond saying that
we have met with the family regularly, that we have provided consular
support, I’m not going to get into our private discussions with the family.

...

QUESTION: I’m just trying to go back to Rachel Corrie.

MS. NULAND: Yeah.

QUESTION: You said that you understand the family’s disappointment. I’m
wondering if you also, meaning the State Department, the Administration,
share the family’s disappointment in the verdict.

MS. NULAND: I think beyond saying that they have the right of appeal and we
have to see where that goes, it’s probably not productive to get into the
middle of a legal process that may be ongoing.
So go ahead and vote for Obama.

If you are a Jew and you vote for Obama ask yourself do you support Saint Rachel and the ISM?

Haifa court rules against Rachel Corrie family

The Haifa District Court on Tuesday ruled against the family of Rachel Corrie, the American pro-Palestinian activist struck and killed by a bulldozer in Gaza.

In the verdict, Judge Oded Gershon invoked the principle of the combatant activities exception, noting that IDF forces had been attacked in the same area Corrie was killed just hours earlier.

Corrie, 23, from Olympia, Washington, died in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, on March 16, 2003, when an IDF bulldozer struck her during a protest by pro-Palestinian group the International Solidarity Movement.

Reading a summary of his 62-page decision, the judge described Israel's investigation into the incident as appropriate and said it had no mistakes.

Asserting that Corrie could have avoided danger, he dismissed claims that the IDF was negligent in the incident and denied the family's suit for symbolic damages. The IDF did not violate Corrie's right to life, he continued, asserting that she inserted herself into a dangerous situation.

The state, he continued, was not responsible for any "damages caused" due to the combat situation but nonetheless called Corrie's death a "regrettable accident."

Speaking outside the courtroom minutes after the verdict was released, an attorney representing the Corrie family in the case said the court endorsed the violation of Rachel's human rights,.

The court's decision, Attorney Hussein Abu Hussein noted that the verdict was so close to the state's position that state attorneys could have authored it themselves.

Rachel's mother Cindy said she was deeply saddened by the verdict.

"From the beginning it was clear that there is a system to protect soldiers and provide them with impunity at the cost of civilians," she told reporters outside the court. "Now we now that the protection for soldiers extends to the court."

Saying that US diplomacy and the Israeli court system failed her family, Cindy Corrie added that there was never a credible investigation into her daughter's death.

However, she continued, "At least we have had access to a court system, which most Palestinians are denied."

Corrie was protesting injustice in Gaza when she was run over and killed by an IDF bulldozer, the attorney said, accusing the state and IDF of violating her human rights.

Corrie’s family filed the civil suit against the Defense Ministry in the district court seven years ago. They claim that the IDF either deliberately killed Corrie or is at least guilty of gross negligence.

Senior US officials criticised the original military investigation into the case, saying it had been neither thorough nor credible. But the judge said the inquiry had been appropriate and pinned no blame on the army.

Immediately after the trial ended in July, Corrie’s family alleged that important evidence, including several surveillance tapes from the time Corrie died, were withheld as part of a coverup over the circumstances of her death.

Among the evidence the family claims has been withheld from the civil suit are surveillance tapes that show color footage of events before and after Corrie’s death.

The color footage was used in a Channel 2 documentary, but the IDF has denied that the color footage exists, the family claims.

IDF officials did submit as evidence a black and white surveillance video with footage from immediately before and after Corrie’s death.

The family also claims there are discrepancies between a photograph of the bulldozer that they say killed Corrie taken by International Solidarity Movement activists, and a bulldozer shown on footage presented by the IDF.

Joanna Paraszczuk and Reuters contributed to this report.
http://www.jpost.com/LandedPages/PrintArticle.aspx?id=282862
Now if we could park a D9 on saint Rachels parents, the world would be a better place.

Her parents are not just grieving parents, Rachel learned to hate Israel and Jews from mom and dad.

Israel needs to declare covert war against the ISM and hunt them down like terrorist and get rid of the key players.

August 27, 2012

Peres commutes sentences of 7 Israeli-Arab security prisoners

President, justice minister commute life sentences of security prisoners jailed before Oslo Accords; six of them convicted of murder
Noam 'Dabul' Dvir

President Shimon Peres and Justice Minister Yaakov Ne'eman commuted the sentences of seven Israel-Arab security prisoners who have been held in Israeli prisons since the 1980s.

The seven – Samir Sarsawi, Maher Younis, Karim Younis, Ibrahim Biadseh, Walid Daka, Rushdie abu Much and Ibrahim Bin Naif abu Much – were all incarcerated before the Oslo Accords and were sentenced to life in prison. Six of them were convicted of murder.

Peres and Ne'eman accepted the recommendation of a special parole committee, which commutes life sentences in cases where the court orders life imprisonment without determining the length of the jail term. According to Israeli legal procedures, the president must be the one to commute the length of the life sentences. Such a step is not the same as granting clemency.

The committee members, who recommended commuting the sentences, did not reach unanimous decisions in all of the cases. For many of the prisoners, the committee suggested a range by which to shorten the sentence. The President's Residence stated that Ne'eman and Peres chose the strictest option for each one.

Among the prisoners are Karim Younis, who murdered soldier Avraham Bromberg in 1981 was sentenced to 40 years in prison, and Walid Daka, who was arrested in 1986 and convicted of involvement in the kidnapping and murder of soldier Moshe Tamam in 1984.
http://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/ArticleLayout/CdaArticlePrintPreview/1,2506,L-4273745,00.html
So can Peres bring the people that were murdered back to life?

August 26, 2012

Rabbi Ovadia Yosef: Pray for the destruction of Iran

By JEREMY SHARON
26/08/2012
Shas spiritual leader calls on followers to ask God to wipe out "evil ones who threaten Israel," in their Rosh Hashana prayers.

Revered rabbi Ovadiah Yosef implored God to “wipe out and destroy” Iran and Hezbollah during his weekly sermon on Saturday night.

This is the second time in a row in which Rabbi Yosef, the spiritual leader of the Shas movement, has spoken about the threat of Iran’s nuclear program during his post-Sabbath Torah lesson.

It follows a briefing he was given by National Security Adviser Yaakov Amidror on the Iranian issue 10 days ago, which was seen as part of an effort from the Prime Minister’s Office to obtain the rabbi’s support for the government’s position on the matter.

Speaking on Saturday night, Yosef talked about the tradition on the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashana, of eating various fruits and vegetables as positive portents for the year ahead.

“When we make the blessing on the dates that ‘our enemies and haters should be ended’ we should have in mind the Iranian regime, those evil people who threaten Israel,” the rabbi said.

“When eating the leek,” also traditionally eaten as part of the symbolic service for a good coming year, “and when we say that our enemies, foes and anyone who desires to do evil to us should be cut off, we should have in mind Hezbollah and Iran,” Yosef said.

“Destroy them God, obliterate them from the face of the earth,” adding a verse from the Book of Psalms: “Some call on chariots and horses, but we will invoke the name of God our Lord, they collapse and fall down but are risen and gather strength.”

Shas political leader Eli Yishai has been thought until now to be opposed to a unilateral Israeli strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, a stance most likely dictated by Rabbi Yosef who determines all major policy positions for the party.

It is thought that the meeting between Amidror and Yosef at the rabbi’s house, attended by Yishai, was part of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s efforts to gain Shas’ support for a strike.

Yishai is a member of the inner security cabinet of nine ministers, which, it is believed, is split down the middle on whether or not to attack. Four members are supposedly in favor, including Netanyahu, and four against, including Yishai. Newly appointed Home Front Defense Minister Avi Dichter is believed to be undecided.

Last Saturday night, Rabbi Yosef said that “a second Haman, also from Persia, intends to do evil to us,” in reference to a Persian enemy of the Jewish people recorded in the Biblical book of Esther, adding “We are in danger, all of us are in danger. We have no one to rely on apart from our Father in heaven.”
Pray and fight.

We know that G-D did not split the sea until one Jew jumped in nose deep in the water.

August 24, 2012

MERF

For those who would like to hear me on the radio, I am very pleased to announce that I will be having a weekly appearance on the Middle East Radio Forum, the show is hosted By William Wolf.

The time of the show is 3pm EDT, 12 noon Pacific, 10pm Israel, every Sunday. Please feel free to call in if you have any questions about my weekly comments. If you should happen to miss the show then you can go to the MERF web page and listen to me and other guest in the archives.

Groups to Obama: Denounce ‘radical’ rabbi support

By JTA
24/08/2012
Two conservatives groups call on US president to reject those "Rabbis for Obama" associated with Jewish Voice for Peace.

WASHINGTON – Two conservative groups called on the Obama campaign to sever ties with a "radical" on its newly-released list of more than 600 rabbis who support the president's reelection.

The campaign rejected the demand.

The Republican Jewish Coalition on Thursday “expressed profound outrage” that Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb, a Renewal rabbi from California that the RJC described as a "radical rabbi," is part of Rabbis for Obama, which was launched Tuesday.

Gottlieb sits on the advisory board of Jewish Voice for Peace, a group that is active in the campaign to use boycott, divestment and sanctions to pressure Israel into ending the occupation of the West Bank, and that has no official position on whether Israel should exist as a Jewish state.

In September 2008, she was part of a coalition of religious groups that spoke about the Holocaust and Palestinian rights with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at a New York hotel. At that event, she said she favored face-to-face reconciliation, and asked Ahmadinejad, who has denied the Holocaust, to "change the way you speak about the Holocaust."

Gottlieb is one of eight Jewish Voice for Peace members on the list.

“By promoting and showcasing Rabbi Gottlieb as one of Pres. Obama’s supporters, the Obama campaign lends legitimacy and credibility to a rabbi whose extreme views are well beyond the mainstream of the Jewish community and the mainstream of America,” the RJC wrote in a statement to JTA.

Joining the RJC in calling on Obama to distance itself from the eight JVP members was the Emergency Committee for Israel, a group that has backed Republican candidates for Congress.

"It was particularly shocking to see that your campaign had recruited, and was touting the support of, rabbis who have no commitment to Israel’s security, and whose values are representative of a small and extreme group of anti-Israel activists – and certainly not of the pro-Israel community," William Kristol, ECI's founder, wrote in a letter to Obama.

The Obama campaign dismissed the call to remove anyone from the list.

"The President's strong support of Israel and toughest-ever actions against Iran has led rabbis from across the political spectrum to express their support for the president and have committed to seeing him reelected," a campaign official told JTA. "The President obviously does not endorse or embrace their every affiliation, action or utterance."

Rabbi Sam Gordon of Illinois, one of three co-chairs of Rabbis for Obama, criticized the RJC. “I think picking out one rabbi out of 613 is missing the point and continuing to demonize those who disagree with a specific position of certain people within the Jewish community.”

He praised Obama’s “desire to bring about a lasting peace with security for Israel."

August 23, 2012

Sources: Iran expands nuclear capacity underground

By REUTERS
23/08/2012
Diplomatic sources in Vienna say that Iran added many more uranium enrichment machines at its underground bunker in Fordow; new satellite imagery shows Iran covered suspected building at Parchin.

Iran has installed many more uranium enrichment machines in an underground bunker, diplomatic sources said on Thursday, potentially paving the way for a significant expansion of work the West fears is ultimately aimed at making nuclear bombs.

Iran denies allegations it is seeking a nuclear weapons capability. But its refusal to curb its nuclear enrichment program has prompted tough Western sanctions and has heightened speculation that Israel may attack its atomic sites.

In a possible sign of further Iranian defiance in the face of such pressure, several sources said Iran had put in place additional enrichment centrifuges in its Fordow facility, buried deep inside a mountain to protect it against enemy strikes.

One source suggested hundreds of machines had been installed.

In another development likely to worry the West, they said satellite imagery indicated Iran had covered a building at a military site which UN inspectors want to visit with a brightly-colored, tent-like structure.

Western diplomats have said they believe Iran is cleansing the Parchin site to remove any evidence of illicit nuclear activity at a place where the UN nuclear watchdog suspects it has conducted tests that had a military dimension.

Covering the building in question - which is believed to house a steel chamber for explosives experiments - may allow Iran to carry out sanitization or other work there which would not be seen via satellite pictures.

One Western envoy said that the suspected clean-up at Parchin was "intensifying" and that this made it doubtful that inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) would uncover any hard evidence there, even if they were allowed to go.

"Given the extent of the clean-up, it is indeed unlikely the agency, if it ever gets access, would find anything at Parchin," the diplomat said.

There was no immediate comment from Iran's mission to the Vienna-based UN atomic agency. It has previously dismissed the allegations about Parchin, which it says is a conventional military facility, as "ridiculous".
Hey Obama, I have zero respect for you, so from now on I will not call you President.

I no longer respect you, because your policies are putting my children's life at risk.

But my cynical view of you, thinks you might hit Iran late in October if it looks like you are going to loose the election. To stay in the White House, you might act to save 6,000,000 Jews.

But if it looks like you are going to win, I think you would enjoy seeing mushroom clouds over Israel.

I say this because your helping bring the Arab Spring to the Middle East has insured Israel is surrounded by Islamic
radicals that want to murder 6,000,000 Jews and convert Tel Aviv into their private beach.

You are evil and the Jews around you are fools at best and kapo's at the worse.

I am tired of being nice, when it comes to insuring the survival of Israel.

'Hezbollah drill prepares to 'occupy the Galilee"

Over 10,000 Hezbollah fighters participated in the organization's largest
military exercise to date last week, which included defensive tactics and
preparations to occupy the Upper Galilee, Lebanese newspaper Al-Joumhouria
reported.

The report noted that the drill lasted three days and the majority of the
soldiers that participated in the exercise belonged to special forces.

According to the "informed source," Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah is said
to have called for the organization to make the appropriate preparations to
occupy northern Israel recently.

It is widely believed that any sort of military action that Israel takes
against Iran would be followed by a response from the Lebanese Shi'ite
paramilitary organization on its northern border. Last Friday, Nasrallah
threatened to rain rockets onto Israel's North as part of his public address
on Al-Quds Day.

"Hitting these targets with a small number of rockets will turn ... the
lives of hundreds of thousands of Zionists to real hell, and we can talk
about tens of thousands of dead," said Nasrallah.

The speech followed a report that Hezbollah had received Scud missiles from
Syria in April of this year. The missiles were reported to be old and
unusable, but the Hezbollah sources confirmed they had a large arsenal of
surface-to-surface missiles. Around the same time the IDF came very close to
attacking a convoy carrying weapons from Syria to Lebanon, but at the last
moment decided against it, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Currently embroiled in a civil war, Syria is an important supply line for
Hezbollah, as it connects the Shi'ite Lebanese organization to the Shi'ite
regime in Tehran. Hezbollah was reported to be providing military support
for the Assad regime as it tries to suppress a rebellion that has already
claimed over many thousands of lives. If the Assad regime falls, the Shiite
crescent will fragment, and Hezbollah's supply line from Iran will be
geographically cut.

How can we still have idiots that think we can have peace with Arabs?

We see Lieberman calling for elections to get rid of Abbas as the head of the PA, in hopes of getting a leader we can give our land to.

Bibi still talks of peace with the Arabs.

To say nothing of the truly brain dead people like the members of Peace Now.

How can people not believe in G-D, for it is only G-D that keeps us from destroying ourselves in this suicidal desire to make peace with people that want to murder every Jew in Israel.

The Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the risks of traveling to Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip, and about threats to themselves and to U.S. interests in those locations. The Department of State urges U.S. citizens to remain mindful of security factors when planning travel to Israel and the West Bank and to avoid all travel to the Gaza Strip. This replaces the Travel Warning issued March 19, 2012, to update information on the general security environment.

The Gaza Strip and Southern Israel

The Department of State strongly urges U.S. citizens to avoid all travel to the Gaza Strip, which is under the control of Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization. U.S. citizens in Gaza are advised to depart immediately. The Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt allows for some passenger travel, though coordination with local authorities -- which could take days or weeks to process -- is reportedly required. Travelers who enter the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing from Egypt must also exit through the Rafah crossing. The Israeli authorities do not permit such travelers to exit through the Erez crossing into Israel except in situations of extreme humanitarian need. Travelers entering the Gaza Strip may not be able to depart at a time of their choosing. Delays of days or weeks are common. U.S. citizens should be aware that as a consequence of a longstanding prohibition on travel by U.S. citizen employees of the U.S. government into the Gaza Strip, the ability of consular staff to offer timely assistance to U.S. citizens there is extremely limited, including the provision of routine consular services.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) strictly control the crossing points between Israel and the Gaza Strip. The security environment within Gaza, including its border with Egypt and its seacoast, is dangerous and volatile. U.S. citizens are advised against traveling to Gaza by any means, including via sea. Previous attempts to enter Gaza by sea have been stopped by Israeli naval vessels and resulted in the injury, death, arrest, and deportation of U.S. citizens. U.S. citizens participating in any effort to reach Gaza by sea should understand that they may face arrest, prosecution, deportation and the confiscation of their personal items by the Government of Israel. The Government of Israel has announced its intention to seek ten-year travel bans to Israel for anyone participating in an attempt to enter Gaza by sea. On May 31, 2010, nine people were killed, including one U.S. citizen, in such an attempt. The U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv and the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem are not able to provide consular assistance in Gaza or on the high seas or coastal waters.

Small clashes continue to occur along the boundary of the Gaza Strip. Rockets and mortars are still fired into Israel from Gaza, and Israel continues to conduct military operations inside Gaza, including airstrikes. Israel has also declared an exclusion zone inside Gaza along its boundary with Israel and has taken lethal measures against individuals who enter it.

In the past, some rockets have traveled more than 40 km (24 miles) from Gaza and landed as far north as Yavne and Gadera and as far east as Beersheva. As a result of possible military operations by the Government of Israel in Gaza and the ever-present risk of rocket and mortar attacks into Israel from Gaza, U.S. government personnel travelling in the vicinity of the Gaza Strip boundary, to include the city of Sderot,must make prior notification to the Embassy's Regional Security Office. U.S. citizens in the area should be aware of the risks and should take note of announcements by the Government of Israel's office of Homefront Command.

Israeli authorities have also maintained a heightened state of alert along Israel's border with Egypt since an August 18, 2011 terrorist attack that killed eight and injured nearly 40 along Route 12 north of Eilat. There have also been multiple kidnappings in the Sinai of U.S. citizens over the past four years, including U.S. citizens entering Sinai from Israel or transiting Sinai to Israel. Kidnappings of foreign tourists in the Sinai have increased since January 2012. The danger of overland travel in the Sinai is significant and overland travel from Israel to the Sinai is strongly discouraged. U.S. Embassy personnel in Egypt are currently prohibited from traveling to the Sinai, except by air to Sharm El Sheikh. Overland travel by U.S. government employees anywhere in the Sinai outside of Sharm El Sheikh is prohibited. For the latest information on such threats travelers are advised to consult the U.S. Embassy in Cairo or our Consular Information Sheet for Egypt. On August 5, 2012, terrorists attacked an Egyptian outpost in the Sinai, killing 16 soldiers and border guards. The terrorists then seized a military vehicle that they used to penetrate the border fence and enter Israel before being killed by Israeli forces. As a result of the heightened threat in the area, U.S. government personnel must notify the Regional Security Office if they plan to travel south of Be'er Sheva.
The West Bank

The Department of State urges U.S. citizens to exercise caution when traveling to the West Bank. Palestinian Authority (PA) security forces are now deployed in all major cities and other limited areas within the West Bank. As a result, violence in recent years has decreased markedly throughout the West Bank. Nonetheless, demonstrations and violent incidents can occur without warning. Vehicles have also been the target of rocks, Molotov cocktails, and gunfire on West Bank roads. The IDF continues to carry out security operations in the West Bank. Israeli security operations, including incursions in Palestinian population centers, can occur at any time and lead to disturbances and violence. U.S. citizens can be caught in the middle of potentially dangerous situations. Some U.S. citizens involved in demonstrations in the West Bank have sustained serious injuries in confrontations with Israeli security forces. The Department of State recommends that U.S. citizens, for their own safety, avoid demonstrations.

During periods of unrest, the Israeli government sometimes closes off access to the West Bank and those areas may be placed under curfew. All persons in areas under curfew should remain indoors to avoid risking arrest or injury. U.S. citizens have been killed, seriously injured, or detained and deported as a result of encounters with Israeli operations in the West Bank. Travel restrictions may be imposed by the Government of Israel with little or no warning. Strict measures have frequently been imposed following terrorist actions, and the movement of Palestinian-Americans, both those with and without residency status in the West Bank or Gaza, has been severely impeded. Security conditions in the West Bank can hinder the ability of consular staff to offer timely assistance to U.S. citizens.

Jerusalem

The Department of State urges U.S. citizens to remain vigilant while traveling throughout Jerusalem, including in commercial and downtown areas of West Jerusalem. Spontaneous or planned protests within the Old City are possible, especially after Friday prayers. Some of these protests have led to violent clashes. Travelers should exercise caution at religious sites on holy days, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Isolated street protests and demonstrations can also occur in areas of East Jerusalem, including around Salah Ed-Din Street, Damascus Gate, Silwan, and the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood. U.S. government employees are prohibited from entering the Old City on Fridays during the month of Ramadan due to overall congestion and security-related access restrictions. U.S. citizen employees of the U.S. Embassy and Consulate General and their families are prohibited from using public buses and their associated terminals.

Travel Restrictions for U.S. Government Personnel

Personal travel in the West Bank for U.S. government personnel and their families is allowed in the areas described below. They may travel to Bethlehem and Jericho. They may only use Routes 1 and 90 to transit the West Bank. Personal travel is also permitted to Qumran off Route 90 by the Dead Sea and all areas south of Highway 1 and east of route 90 in the Dead Sea area.

U.S. government personnel and family members are permitted both official and personal travel on Route 443 between Modi'in and Jerusalem. All other personal travel in the West Bank, unless specifically authorized for mission-approved purposes, is prohibited.

General Safety and Security

Israeli authorities remain concerned about the continuing threat of terrorist attacks. U.S. citizens are cautioned that a greater danger may exist around restaurants, businesses, and other places associated with U.S. interests and/or located near U.S. official buildings, such as the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv and the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem. U.S. citizens are also urged to exercise a high degree of caution and to use common sense when patronizing restaurants, nightclubs, cafes, malls, places of worship, and theaters, especially during peak hours. Large crowds and public gatherings have been targeted by terrorists in the past and should be avoided to the extent practicable. U.S. government personnel have been directed to avoid protests and demonstrations and urged to maintain a high level of vigilance and situational awareness at all times. U.S. citizens should take into consideration that public buses and their respective terminals are off-limits to U.S. government personnel.

Since December 2009, two U.S. citizens have been murdered in separate incidents while walking in the woods in the Beit Shemesh area near Jerusalem. Israeli authorities characterized the murders as terrorist attacks.

A bomb blast near the Central Bus Terminal in Jerusalem on March 23, 2011, injured several U.S. citizens.

There are live land mines in many areas of the Golan Heights, so visitors should walk only on established roads or trails. Near the northern border of Israel, rocket attacks from Lebanese territory can and have occurred without warning.

A terrorist attack on two commercial buses and two private vehicles on Route 12 north of Eilat killed eight and injured nearly 40 on August 18, 2011.

Entry/Exit Difficulties

U.S. citizens planning to travel to Israel or the West Bank should read carefully the detailed information concerning entry and exit difficulties in the Country Specific Information sheet. U.S. citizens in Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip are strongly encouraged to enroll with the Consular Sections of the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv or the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem through the State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at www.travel.state.gov. Occasional messages issued by the Embassy and the Consulate General are e-mailed to registered U.S. citizens and are posted on State Department websites to highlight time-sensitive security concerns.

Security-related delays are not unusual for travelers carrying audio-visual or data storage/processing equipment, and some have had their laptop computers and other electronic equipment confiscated at Ben Gurion Airport. While most items are returned prior to the traveler's departure, some equipment has been retained by the authorities for lengthy periods and has reportedly been damaged, destroyed, lost or never returned. U.S. citizens who have had personal property damaged due to security procedures at Ben Gurion may contact the Commissioner for Public Complaints at the airport for redress by fax to 972-3-9752387. Israeli security officials have also requested access to travelers’ personal e-mail accounts or other social media accounts as a condition of entry. In such circumstances, travelers should have no expectation of privacy for any data stored on such devices.

The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy should be contacted for information and assistance in the following areas: Israel, the Golan Heights, and ports of entry at Ben Gurion Airport, Haifa Port, the northern (Jordan River) and southern (Arava) border crossings connecting Israel and Jordan, and the border crossings between Israel and Egypt. The Consular Section of the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem should be contacted for information and assistance in the following areas: Jerusalem, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and the Allenby Bridge crossing connecting the West Bank and Jordan.

The Consulate General in Jerusalem may be contacted at (972) (2) 630-4000 and the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv at (972) (3) 519-7575 Monday through Friday during business hours. For emergencies between 4:30 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. local time Monday through Friday and on weekends, the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem may be contacted at (972) (2) 622-7250, and the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv at (972) (3) 519-7551.

Current information on travel and security in Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip may be obtained from the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 within the United States and Canada, or, from other countries, 1-202-501-4444. For additional and more in-depth information about specific aspects of travel to these areas, U.S. citizens should consult: the Country Specific Information for Israel, the West Bank and Gaza; and the Worldwide Caution. These along with other Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts and Country Specific Information are available on the Department's Internet website at www.travel.state.gov. Up-to-date information on security conditions can also be accessed at http://usembassy-israel.org.il or http://jerusalem.usconsulate.gov. Follow us on Twitter and the Bureau of Consular Affairs page on facebook as well. You can also download our free Smart Traveler iPhone App to have travel information at your fingertips.

August 22, 2012

Gantz: IDF has devastating power

IDF chief of staff warns Iran following recent threats which he says show 'underestimation of our capabilities'
Maor Buchnik

IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General Benny Gantz on Wednesday conveyed a warning to Iran saying that "whoever will try to harm us will face our devastating might."

Addressing recent statements by Iranian leaders in the backdrop of reports of a possible Israeli strike in Iran, Gantz said, "We are hearing explicit threats over Israel's security and wellbeing of its people – threats that demonstrate an underestimation of our capabilities."

He further added, "Anyone who thinks they can get rid of Israel and hurt our nation will discover the IDF's devastating force. We stand steadfast along our borders in the face of threats. The IDF has the world's best soldiers and commanders."

On Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi referred to Israel as a "cancerous tumor" and claimed it was in no position to engage in a war with Iran.

Last week, Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad issued threats of their own and predicted that Israel will eventually "disappear off the map."

On Wednesday, The Telegraph quoted Western intelligence sources as saying that Khamenei instructed the Revolutionary Guard Corps' elite unit al-Quds Force to increase terror attacks against the West and its allies in reprisal for their support of Syrian opposition groups.
http://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/ArticleLayout/CdaArticlePrintPreview/1,2506,L-4271980,00.html
I know we have the weapons, does Bibi have the courage to hit Iran hard?

When Israel hits Iran, we must do it hard enough so as to solve the problem.

Let me be blunt if the choice is a mushroom cloud over Iran or Israel, take a guess which way I lean.

August 21, 2012

Israel prepares for nightmare scenarios if eurozone collapses

Finance Ministry believes that dismantlement of eurozone would cause serious recession, erosion of tax revenues, and a huge deficit increase • Disintegration could also mean more than 33,000 layoffs in the Israeli economy.

Israeli officials are making preparations for nightmare economic scenarios if the eurozone disintegrates.

Officials from the Finance Ministry, Bank of Israel and the Prime Minister's Office met on Tuesday for a special discussion on the impact of the European financial crisis on the Israeli economy.

The Finance Ministry fears that in the worst-case scenario, the complete dismantling of the eurozone, there could be more than 33,000 layoffs in the Israeli economy. The unemployment rate in Israel currently stands at 7.5 percent of the workforce, representing 259,000 unemployed Israelis. According to data released by the Israeli Employment Service on Tuesday, 16,084 Israelis lost their jobs in July.

The Finance Ministry believes that dismantling the eurozone would cause a serious recession, a collapse of tax revenues and a huge deficit increase.

In the worst-case scenario, the Israeli economy would contract 0.9% in 2013, tax revenues would decrease by 52 billion shekels ($12.9 billion) over the next two years, and the budget deficit would jump to 5.8% of gross domestic product in 2013 and 7.3% in 2014.

In a moderate scenario, in which Greece left the eurozone, the Israeli economy would grow only 1.7% in 2013, instead of the currently predicted 2.9%. Tax revenues would decrease by 7.8 billion shekels ($1.9 billion) and the budget deficit would amount to 3.9% of GDP next year and 4.5% in 2014.
http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=5490

Lieberman: Don't let Egypt get away with violations

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Tuesday that Israel must make sure that the 1979 peace treaty is upheld and not stay silent as Egypt's military forces enter Sinai.

Israeli state officials expressed concerns over the fact that Egypt failed to notify Israel about the deployment of tanks in Sinai - a move that clearly violates the peace treaty.

In a closed meeting with ambassadors in Jerusalem, Lieberman said, "We must make sure that every detail is upheld, otherwise we'll find ourselves in a slippery slope as far as the peace treaty is concerned."

Israel has asked Egypt to withdraw the tanks and state officials believe that the US will use its influence over Cairo, which depends on US aid, to compel it to remove them.

The request was conveyed within the last few days, an Israeli government official told the New York Times, adding that it was likely that the Obama administration had made a similar approach to Cairo.

Earlier on Tuesday, state officials told Ynet that the problem can only be solved if the US intervenes and puts pressure on Cairo. "Netanyahu will need the Americans," one state official said. "He's got a beef with them. Things are getting more complicated by the minute."

The US, on its part, was careful not to denounce Egypt's move. "Without getting into our private diplomacy with one country or the other, I would make the general point that as the Egyptians work hard now to defeat terror and turn back other security threats in the Sinai, we've been supportive of those efforts," State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said Tuesday.

She nevertheless added, "We have encouraged them in those efforts not only to enhance security in Egypt but also to enhance security for neighbors, security in the region. And we have encouraged that lines of communication stay open in keeping with peace treaty obligations and that they make full use of the mechanisms that are available for transparency, for confidence- building."

Last week, the New York Times reported that the US and Egypt have begun negotiating an aid package meant to help Cairo fight the growing terrorist threat in Sinai.

According to the report, the Pentagon is discussing a variety of options for sharing intelligence with Egypt’s military and police in Sinai.

'Israeli border not the problem'

Earlier, Israeli state officials said they were unimpressed with President Mohammed Morsi's efforts to prove he is fighting terror and noted there is no evidence to suggest he intends to handle the problem.

They noted that Egypt's problem in Sinai is not on the Israeli border but in other areas which terrorists use to smuggle weapons into the region. One official said that in order to prove that he's serious in fighting terror, Morsi needs to "move commando forces, not officers, into Sinai to secure the border with Israel," explaining that other borders, like the one with Sudan, are being used as smuggling routes.

While Jerusalem does not want to create a crisis with Egypt, it wishes to demonstrate that a violation of the treaty, even with a small number of tanks, will not be ignored.

Egypt trying to test Israel?

Some state officials are concerned that Egypt is trying to test Israel's determination to uphold the peace accord. Cairo officials have already announced that the agreements will be reconsidered and it is possible Egypt's unilateral steps are part of an effort to create a conflict on the ground that will eventually lead to a reevaluation of the peace deal.

Arab media reported that Egypt's presidential bureau denied reports that Cairo had accepted a formal request by Israel to remove military equipment from Sinai including tanks and heavy machinery.

Presidential spokesman Yasser Ali told reporters that no message from the Israeli government had been received in relation to the matter but stressed that securing Sinai was a matter of national security for Egypt.

Meanwhile, state officials estimated that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will need to reach a decision on a possible strike in Iran in the coming weeks. "The prime minister will have no choice but to hold a discussion and decide on a course of action," one source said.
http://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/ArticleLayout/CdaArticlePrintPreview/1,2506,L-4271499,00.html
Duh.

The United States and Israel have different interpretations of the same intelligence reports on Iran's nuclear program, the US military's top general said.

General Martin Dempsey, at the start of a trip to Afghanistan and Iraq, said late Sunday that Israel viewed the threat posed by Tehran's atomic ambitions with more urgency, as a nuclear-armed Iran could endanger Israel's very existence.

Dempsey, the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, said he conferred with his Israeli counterpart Benny Gantz on a regular, "bi-weekly" basis.

"We compare intelligence, we discuss regional implications. And we've admitted to each other that our clocks are turning at different rates," he said.

"They are living with an existential concern that we are not living with."

Amid intense speculation in the Israeli press that Israel soon may launch a unilateral strike against Iran's nuclear sites, Dempsey said the US military felt no pressure from Israel to back possible bombing raids.

Speaking to reporters aboard his plane before landing Sunday night at Bagram air base in Afghanistan, Dempsey reiterated his view that any air strikes by Israel would delay but not destroy Iran's disputed nuclear project.

Similar remarks by the general last week were widely analyzed in the Israeli media but Dempsey said his comments were not designed with an Israeli audience in mind.

'Israel lives with existential threat'
"You can take two countries and interpret the same intelligence and come out with two different conclusions. I'd suggest to you that's what's really happening here," he said.

The four-star general also struck a cautious note on any possible US military action against the Syrian regime.

Asked about the possibility of the United States backing a no-fly zone over Syria, Dempsey hinted that such a move might draw away military resources needed to deter Iran in the Gulf.

August 17, 2012

MERF

For those who would like to hear me on the radio, I am very pleased to announce that I will be having a weekly appearance on the Middle East Radio Forum, the show is hosted By William Wolf.

The time of the show is 3pm EDT, 12 noon Pacific, 10pm Israel, every Sunday. Please feel free to call in if you have any questions about my weekly comments. If you should happen to miss the show then you can go to the MERF web page and listen to me and other guest in the archives.

Egyptian Army deploys anti-aircraft missiles near Israeli border without permission

Dr. Aaron Lerner Date: 17 August 2012

Israel Radio Arab Affairs analyst Eran Zinger reported during the noon news
magazine program that Egypt has deployed anti-aircraft and anti-tank
missiles near Israel’s border in Egyptian Sinai without Israel’s permission.

Such equipment is prohibited in the area according to the Egypt-Israel peace
treaty.

“Egypt is trying to change the situation in Sinai,” Zinger noted.

Zinger also pointed to reports that the FSA in Syria is being armed with
anti-aircraft Stinger missiles, warning that this equipment can also
ultimately serve to threaten Israel.
Egypt is doing this with the backing of the USA.

Yesterday on the Israeli news a presenter noted that in 80 something days we have an election.

August 16, 2012

Poll: Romney cares more than Obama about Israel

The day after the National Jewish Democratic Council uploaded a video of Sderot residents singing US President Barack Obama’s praises, a poll released Thursday shows Israeli Jews – by a 2:1 ratio – believe Republican hopeful Mitt Romney is more concerned about Israel’s interests than Obama.

According to the poll, conducted by the Dahaf Institute on August 7-8, 40 percent of the respondents said Romney, 19% Obama and 10% said “both to the same extent.” Another 25% did not know, while 6% said “neither.”

When broken down even further – into the Left, Center and Right camps – Obama only fares well on the Left, with Romney polling significantly better both among those who consider themselves in the Center or on the Right on political-security issues.

In the Center, 39% see Romney as better for Israel, as opposed to 20% for Obama. On the Right, 52% say Romney, and only 13% Obama. And on the Left, Obama out-polls Romney 37% – 17%. The poll has a 4.5 percent margin of error.

The poll was released two weeks after Romney and US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta came to Israel for visits, both seeking to win over pro- Israel supporters in the US.

The poll is interesting because it is one of only a few surveys of Israeli attitudes toward the two candidates.

A poll in June commissioned by the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies asked a sample of Jewish Israelis “Who would better promote Israel’s interests, Obama or Romney?” In that survey Romney outpolled Obama 29-22%, with fully 49% either not responding or saying they did not know.

August 15, 2012

Explosions in Eilat; Grad attack feared

Police say two massive blasts heard in southern-most city, IDF forces scouring area to check whether blasts were result of Grad rocket attack

Ynet reporters
Published: 08.15.12, 22:31 / Israel News

An Eilat Sub-District Police spokesman said two massive explosions were heard in Israel's southern-most city Wednesday evening. The IDF confirmed that following reports of blasts, forces have begun scouring the area to check whether the explosions were a result of a Grad rocket attack.

Dozens of Ynet readers sent Red Emails in which they reported hearing loud explosions. Eilat police said it was also contacted by numerous residents.

"We heard to loud explosions. It was really scary," said Rotem, an Eilat resident. "Last time this happened the entire house shook."

Enough already.

Iran, no Iran, Israel needs to get serious.

We have a multi front war coming to us in the near future.

The only question is what kind of multi front war a 1967 or a 1973 type war.

I do not want my son or son in law to have to fight in a war.

It is clear to me that the only way to avoid them fighting in a war, is to get them to move from Israel and then shoot them in the knee.

But since they are not moving and I would never shoot those I love, they will be in a war soon.

Israel needs to move into the Sinai, and if that means war with Egypt so be it.

Israel needs to hit Iran and understand it will get ZERO help from the USA.

Ttable 22: Number of Employed Persons Aged 15 Years and Over in the
Palestinian Territory by
Place of work and Region (ILO Standards), April - June, 2012

Table 30: Distribution of Employed Persons Aged 15 Years and Over in the
Palestinian Territory by Place of Work and Region (ILO Standards), April -
June, 2012

For West Bank

Place of work
530,800 (86.8%) Palestinian Territory
41,000 ( 6.7%) Israel and Settlements (Persons who have Permit)
22,500 ( 3.7%) Israel and Settlements (Persons who not have Permit)
16,700 (2.7%) Israel and Settlements (Persons who have Israeli Identity
or foreign passport)
600 (0.1%) Abroad*

(* ): Represents only head of households who are working abroad and they
back annually to their households in the Palestinian Territory, and do not
include household member who are living and working abroad

Table 33: Average Weekly Work Hours, Monthly Work Days and Daily Wage in NIS
for Wage Employees Aged 15 Years and Over by Place of Work (ILO Standards),
April - June, 2012

West Bank
Average weekly work hours 43.8 Average monthly work days* 22.3
Median daily net wage in NIS 76.9 Average daily net wage in NIS 87.4
* Including paid days that have not worked
But wait, this does not fit the image the Palestinians have been painting of Israel.

Maybe it should be pointed out to them, that they are biting the hand that feeds them.

The time has come for Israel to seize the initiative and to go direct to the Palestinians. Force them to choose a better life under Israel or they can keep the PA and in time loose everything.

August 14, 2012

US: Israel can't destroy Iran's nuclear program

Chairman of US Joint Chiefs of Staff says strike on Tehran's atom facilities will only slow nuclear program down. Panetta says he 'doesn't believe' Israel made a final decision on strike
Yitzhak Benhorin

WASHINGTON – A possible Israeli strike on Iran's nuclear facilities may be able to hinder the Islamic Republic's atom ambitions but it will no destroy its nuclear program, General Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Tuesday.

In a press briefing held in the pentagon, Dempsey and US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta were asked for their opinion of a recent media report suggesting Israel was closer than ever to undertaking a unilateral strike against Iran, and whether they believed such military action would be effective.

Dempsey told reporters that "Militarily, my assessment hasn't changed. And I want to make clear, I'm not privy to their planning. So what I'm telling you is based on what I know of their capabilities. And I may not know about all of their capabilities. But I think that it's a fair characterization to say that they could delay but not destroy Iran's nuclear capabilities."

Panetta, on his part, said that Israel has not informed the US of any immediate plans to that effect. "I've said this before, I'll say it now – I don't believe (Israel has) made a decision as to whether or not they will, they will go in and attack Iran at this time," he said.

"Obviously, they're an independent, sovereign country. They'll ultimately make decisions based on what they think is in their national security interest. But I don't believe they made that decision at this time."

Panetta added that the US believes "there is room to continue to negotiate… The additional sanctions are beginning to have an additional impact on top of the other sanctions that have been placed there.

"The international community is strongly unified in opposition to Iran developing any kind of nuclear weapon," he said.

"We are working together, both on the diplomatic side as well as on the economic side… The United States and the international community are going to continue to press because, as I said and I'll continue to repeat – the prime minister of Israel said the same thing – that any kind of military action ought to be the last alternative, not the first."

Washington, Panetta stressed, still believes that "the window is still open to try to work towards a diplomatic solution."

'No one wants war'

As the debate over a possible strike on Iran grows heated, a top political source told Ynet Tuesday that "No one really wants a war. No one wants to strike. All this talk about a military strike has gotten too loud."

A Jerusalem source ventured that the public debate vis-à-vis the United States is meant to lead to an unequivocal statement by Washington that will have a clear effect on Tehran.

"President Obama must present a new position on Iran in a very public and clear way – in a way that would convince the Iranians that he is serious about the military option," a top political source said.

"He doesn’t need to convince Israel that he's serious – he needs to convince Iran. The Iranians have to understand that they conduct will carry a price."

The international community, he added "Must also exacerbate the sanctions further. The economic situation in Iran is dire, but it has yet to convince the regime to stop enriching uranium. A clear statement by Obama could change that."

http://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/ArticleLayout/CdaArticlePrintPreview/1,2506,L-4268657,00.html
Just stab us one more time in the back, maybe the stupid Jews of America will open their eyes as to the danger that is Obama.

Aide: Morsi to discuss amendments to peace treaty

Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi will discuss amendments to the 1979 peace treaty with Israel to ensure Egypt's full sovereignty over the Sinai Peninsula, the president's legal adviser claimed on Tuesday.

In an interview with al-Masry al-Youm, Mohamed Jadallah said there was no conflict between Morsi and the Higher Military Council. He stressed that none of the military leaders intervened in the election of the new defense minister and chief of staff and that the president had the prerogative to make changes in the top military brass.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4268449,00.html
If their needs to be a change in the status of Sinai, let it be to the benefit of Israel and not Egypt.

August 13, 2012

Tunnel owner tells Palestinian daily of hidden passageways the Egyptian army
has not detected
By Elhanan Miller Times of Israel August 13, 2012, 7:41 pm2
http://www.timesofisrael.com/despite-egyptian-crackdown-hundreds-of-smuggling-tunnels-still-active/

Despite efforts by Egypt’s military to crackdown on Palestinian smuggling
tunnels between Gaza and Sinai and destroy them, hundreds of tunnels are
still active, Palestinian smugglers told the Hamas-affiliated daily
Felesteen Sunday.

Tunnel operators have been working over the weekend to bring in food
supplies, building materials and fuel since a number of tunnels have been
destroyed both on the Egyptian and the Palestinian sides of the border. But
according to one smuggler, hundreds of tunnels continue to operate,
undetected by the Egyptian army which has increased its presence along the
border.

Wahid, who smuggles cement from Egypt to Gaza, told Felesteen that his
supplies have decreased on the Egyptian side due to the heightened security
presence in Sinai. He said that the Egyptian forces have filled up a
negligible number of tunnels compared to the hundreds that still operate.
Wahid added that a number of tunnel owners have closed their tunnels and hid
the openings, lest the Egyptian army discover and destroy them.

Egypt moved to shut down the tunnels after 16 policemen were killed in a
raid on a border police post in the town of Rafah which sits near the
borders with Gaza and Israel.

Islamic movement Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip, has unprecedentedly
asked the Egyptians to shut tunnels along the border, suggesting the
formation of an Egyptian-trained force to defend the border.

Hamas has requested that Egypt upgrade the Rafah border crossing into an
industrial hub and open the crossing around the clock, rendering the tunnels
obsolete.

On Sunday, Hamas leader Salah Bardawil declared his movement’s willingness
to forgo tunnel smuggling in return for the opening of the Rafah crossing to
goods and people.

“The tunnels are a popular emergency means to punch a hole in the criminal
siege wall encircling the Gaza Strip and to assert Palestinian steadfastness
and resistance in the face of occupation,” he said.

Following the terrorist attack on an Egyptian army outpost near Rafah August
5, Egypt sent heavy machinery to the border area with Gaza and began
destroying smuggling tunnels.

But an unnamed security official acknowledged to Felesteen that a number of
tunnels continue to operate “under complete secrecy,” adding that in a
number of “extraordinary” cases Gaza residents even used them to enter Egypt
in the past few days.

Israel allows all goods to enter Gaza through the Kerem Shalom border
crossing except for building materials which they say could be used in the
construction of weapons: cement, steel and gravel

Immediately after the Rafah attack and tunnel destruction, Gaza reported a
sharp rise of up to 60% in the cost of building materials.

August 12, 2012

This Is Just Wrong

Soldier gets 45 days over unlawful use of firearm
By YAKKOV LAPPIN
12/08/2012
IDF soldier reaches plea bargain after initial charges of killing mother, daughter during Cast Lead downgraded.

An IDF soldiers will serve a jail sentence of 45 days for the unlawful use of his firearm during Operation Cast Lead in 2009, after reaching a plea bargain with military prosecutors.

The soldier - now a civilian - served in the Givati Brigade during the 2009 Gaza conflict,and was initially charged with the unlawful killing of two Palestinian women from the same family during Operation Cast Lead in 2009.

Military prosecutors then downgraded the charges after major discrepancies were found in the case against the soldier.

The defendant's lawyer proved that the shooting and the killing of the two women happened at different times. Additionally, the prosecution said no bodies had been presented to the court to determine the women's cause of death, and said that there many soldiers shooting in the area at the time.

Finally, there were significant discrepancies between the Palestinian claims in the case and the IDF's charges.

The charges initially leveled against the soldier, known as S., were the most serious accusations against an Israeli soldier from Cast Lead, and the case appeared in the UN-commissioned Goldstone Report.

On January 4, 2009, Palestinian mother and daughter, Majda and Raya Abu Hajaj, were said to be part of a group of civilians waving a white sheet in order to show that they did not present a threat and were seeking evacuation from their home near Gaza City due to the nearby fighting.

The Givati soldiers stationed nearby received a warning that terrorists may attempt to blend in to groups of fleeing civilians and launch attacks.

Evidence produced during the trial indicated that S. ignored orders and fired on the group.

The IDF investigated the incident and decided to bring the soldier to trial. "As we said when charges were filed, this case will begin with manslaughter and will end with a weak result," attorneys Meir Klinger and Oded Saburai, who represent the soldier, told Maariv. "We welcome the prosecution's decision to back away from the charges, even though this happened following a significant delay," the attorneys added. The lawyers said it was a shame their client had to face such a severe and baseless charge for two years.

In response to the plea bargain, Israeli human rights organization B'Tselem called called for a reopening of the investigation into the two deaths.

http://www.jpost.com/LandedPages/PrintArticle.aspx?id=280945
This is wrong!

The soldier should never have been charged.

We have let self hating Jews infect Israel with a PC virus, that at the very least will cause pain and suffering to Israelis and could even cost soldiers their lives.

Gaza was war, Gaza is war, Gaza will be war.

In war people get killed.

In a war where terrorist hide behind civilians.

I don't want us to have to bury any of our boys, because they did not pull the trigger, when they should have.

I don't care if Israel kills 10,000 civilians, if that is what it takes to have our boys come home alive and whole.

If you let terrorist use you, the civilians of Gaza or Judea and Samaria as cover, then it should really suck to be you.

If you don't want to be used as cover then turn on the terrorist, that are your brothers and family and remove them from your population.

Then maybe the rest of us might have a chance, for a better future.

If you refuse to clean the garbage in your own home, tough.

Then it should suck to be you, when the IDF has to take out your garbage.

Lousia Nahari, whose husband Moshe was killed in 2008 by radical Islamist, moves to Israel with four of her kids; reunites with five other children who made aliya after murder
Omri Efraim

Lousia Nahari, wife of the late Moshe Yaish-Nahari, who was shot to death in Raida, Yemen in December 2008, has made aliyah with the aid of the Jewish Agency together with her four children.

Lousia arrived at Ben-Gurion Airport Sunday morning and reunited with five of her other children, who had already made aliyah three and-a-half years ago. The family will now be settled in an absorption center in southern Israel.

"It was a very emotional reunion, there was a lot of excitement at the airport's arrivals hall. The family members were teary eyed and could not stop hugging, and even the other passengers couldn't hold back their tears," said Ariel Di-Porto, director of the Jewish Agency for Israel's Middle East Aliyah Desk.

Di-Porto noted that Lousia arrived to Israel "extremely thin and seems like she has been going through some rough times. She couldn’t stop crying and said that it was a day of joy."

Explaining why it took Nahari so long to make Aliyah, Di-Porto said that she had to stay in Yemen in order to serve as a witness in her husband's killer's trial.

Chairman of The Jewish Agency Natan Sharansky said that "Lousia's aliyah and her emotional reunion with her children is first and foremost closing a personal circle, but also closing a Zionist one."

Moshe, who worked as a Hebrew teacher and was the brother of a prominent rabbi in Yemen was shot to death by former pilot for the Yemenite army because he refused to convert to Islam.

Eyewitnesses told said the killer, Abed el-Aziz el-Abadi, had confronted Nahari at the market in Raida, called out to him "Jew, accept the message of Islam" and then proceeded to open fire with a Kalashnikov assault rifle. Nahari was struck by five bullets.

http://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/ArticleLayout/CdaArticlePrintPreview/1,2506,L-4267604,00.html
It is too bad it took loosing a husband and father to bring them to Israel.

I have to say we had family members come to Israel from Yemen some where around 2000 if I remember correctly.

MERF

For those who would like to hear me on the radio, I am very pleased to announce that I will be having a weekly appearance on the Middle East Radio Forum, the show is hosted By William Wolf.

The time of the show is 3pm EDT, 12 noon Pacific, 10pm Israel, every Sunday. Please feel free to call in if you have any questions about my weekly comments. If you should happen to miss the show then you can go to the MERF web page and listen to me and other guest in the archives.

The survey was commissioned by Maariv and conducted by telephone on 7-8
August 2012 - among a random sample of 501 respondents, constituting a
representative
sample of Israel's adult population (aged 18 and over - including Israeli
Arabs). results published on 10 August, 2012. Survey error +/- 4.5
percentage points

The survey was conducted by Maagar - Interdisciplinary Research and
Consulting Institute Ltd., managed by Professor Yitzhak Katz.

1. Is it possible to prevent Iran today from manufacturing an atomic bomb
via sanctions and international pressure, without anyone having to carry out
a military attack on Iranian nuclear targets?
Total: Yes 22% No 41% Other 37%
Jews: Yes 21% No 44% Other 35%
Arabs: Yes 24% No 38% Other 38%

2. What are the chances that President Obama will attack Iran to the extent
that it is required to fulfill his commitment to deny them nuclear weapons?
Total: Very low 11% Low 20% Middle 13% High 18% Very high 19% Other 19%
Jews: Very low 10% Low 20% Middle 14% High 22% Very high 21% Other 13%
Arabs: Very low 14% Low 21% Middle 12% High 10% Very high 9% Other 34%

3. In any case will the president of the USA honor his commitment to prevent
Iran from developing nuclear weapons?
Total: Won't 29% Will 37% Other 34%
Jews: Won't 31% Will 36% Other 33%
Arabs: Won't 28% Will 39% Other 33%

4. If we approach the last time that Israel can harshly damage the Iranian
nuclear program by itself, what should Israel do? Attack Iran by itself or
leave the work for the USA and the international community that has greater
operational capabilities?
Total: Israel attack 35% Leave to USA 39% Other 26%
Jews: Israel attack 40% Leave to USA 35% Other 25%
Arabs: Israel attack 12% Leave to USA 46% Other 42%

5. If Israel attacks by itself it is possible that this will lead to massive
rockets attacks against the home front with hundreds of Israeli civilian
deaths. In light of this possibility, what do you prefer: that Israel
attacks by itself or leaves the work to the USA that has broader operational
capabilities?
Total: Israel attack 33% Leave to USA 41% Other 26%
Jews: Israel attack 40% Leave to USA 36% Other 24%
Arabs: Israel attack 10% Leave to USA 53% Other 37%

6. Is the Israeli home front ready to deal with such a rocket attack?
Total: No 56% Yes 18% Other 26%
Jews; No 57% Yes 16% Other 27%
Arabs: No 54% Yes 20% Other 26%

To what extent do you count on the judgment of Prime Minister Binyamin
Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak on the Iranian matter?
Total: Not at all 11% Don't 16% So-so 23% Rely 31% Greatly rely 9% Other 10%
Jews: Not at all 9% Don't 11% So-so 25% Rely 35% Very much 10% Other 10%
Arabs: Not at all 19% Don’t 35% So-so 15% Rely 21% Very much 6% Other 4%

If the Israeli security professionals oppose an Israeli attack against Iran,
is it legitimate from a public standpoint that the political leadership
decides despite this to attack Iran?
Total: No 44% Yes 33% Other 23%
Jews: No 42% Yes 31% Other 27%
Arabs: No 48% Yes 35% Other 17%

If the Iranians posses a nuclear bomb, in such a case is a second holocaust
possible?
Total: Yes 31% No 25% Other 44%
Jews: Yes 37% No 25% Other 38%
Arabs: Yes 14% No 27% Other 59%

August 09, 2012

US: Iran not on the verge of becoming nuclear

The US has announced that there has been no change in the intelligence assessment according to which Iran is not on the verge of becoming nuclear and that there is still time for diplomacy.

A senior US official said that contrary to reports in Israel, Washington maintains the view that Iran is not on the verge of obtaining nuclear capabilities. (Yitzhak Benhorin, Washington)
O my the time has come, to hit Iran.

If the USA is this dogmatic, then Israel must attack now.

I mean the CIA was spot on with WMD in Iraq, Arab Spring and the Berlin Wall.

August 08, 2012

Israeli intelligence cracks massive Hezbollah bomb plot

In "Operation Time Bomb," police and Israel Security Agency arrest 14 Israeli Arab members of terrorist cell that smuggled weapons and explosives from Lebanon into Israel • Security services disrupt plot before bombs get to their handler, foiling plans to carry out huge wave of terrorist attacks against Israeli targets.
Israel Hayom Staff

Israel has foiled a massive plot to carry out a "mega-attack" or wave of several deadly terrorist attacks against Israeli targets, it was announced on Wednesday. The Israel Police's Northern District's Border Unit and the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) scored a significant intelligence success by uncovering an Israeli-Arab cell smuggling weapons and explosives from Lebanon into Israel.

Eleven suspects were indicted Wednesday in a Nazareth court on charges of aiding the enemy in a time of war, meeting with foreign agents, possession of weapons,conspiracy to commit a crime, attempted drug smuggling and attempted drug trafficking.

Following the lifting of a gag order on the case Wednesday, it was revealed that the cell, made up of three distinct groups and comprising 14 individuals smuggled in 24 ready-to-use C4 high-quality bombs with attached timers into the northern border town of Ghajar, which straddles the Israel-Lebanon border. In addition to the explosive devices, the suspected cell members were caught, following an extensive intelligence gathering operation, with an FN MAG general-purpose machine gun and an M16 rifle stolen from the Israel Defense Forces.

Of the 14 suspects, six are from Ghajar (one of the suspects is reportedly just 17 years old and another is related to the village's elder), six are from Nazareth and one from Ramle in the center of the country.

From Ghajar, the explosives were transferred to Kafr Kana and Nazareth. The operation was dubbed "Time Bomb" as the security services were racing against time to make sure the explosives weren't scattered across the country. The cells were operated by the Hezbollah: One cell operated in Lebanon and transferred the explosives to the cell based in Ghajar. The Ghajar cell then worked with the Nazareth-based cell. According to police, some communication between the cells was done through cellphone SIM cards procured in Jordan.

"This is one of the most severe and dangerous security plots we've had here. The intelligence provided by the police's northern border unit was of extremely high quality," a district police officer told Israel Radio on Wednesday.

Police said that Hezbollah used an existing drug smuggling network of Israeli Arabs to bring 24 ready-to-use bombs from Lebanon into Israel. Some of the smugglers were not aware that they were transporting explosives, whilst others did know, police added.

According to the Northern District's Spokesperson's Office, "Over the past year, Hezbollah has been greatly motivated to carry out terrorist attacks against Israelis and Jews. Hezbollah has worked to gather intelligence information to carry out a significant terrorist attack. In order to achieve their set goal of carrying out a high-profile, effective attack inside Israel, Hezbollah smuggled in large bombs, including operating systems and timers."

In a press conference, a Shin Bet official said that the agency decided to swoop in on the cell after the bombs were moved from the northern border town of Ghajar to Nazareth. It remains unclear who the eventual recipients of the explosives are, and there is speculation from security experts that since the bombs did not reach their intended handlers, there is a strong possibility that a Hezbollah sleeper cell is still active in Israel. The Shin Bet told reporters that it decided to act to take 20 kilograms of C4 explosives off the streets. Agency officials said that Hezbollah uses tactics of crime organizations, making use of drug smuggling networks. This is just the tip of the iceberg of Hezbollah terror activity, the official said. Since Hezbollah has been deterred from heating up the Lebanese border with Israel, it is trying to spread terror abroad, such as the July attack against Israeli tourists in Bulgaria, and inside Israel, the official said.

Israel Police's Northern District and Central Investigations Unit received an initial tip-off on the modus operandi of the cell, and then passed on the information to the Shin Bet.

Northern District Police Commander Maj. Gen. Roni Atia said following the arrests: "Uncovering the cell prevented horrible attacks. In these days, in which the complex security situation affects us at home and abroad, the Israeli public has an opportunity to see up close the methodical and collaborative work that is done by all of Israel's security agencies to thwart, prevent and enforce the law against those who wish to harm us both at home and abroad."

Atia said it was not the first time Israeli Arabs from Nazareth have been implicated in terrorism, adding that the village of Ghajar is Israel's weak spot in the north. The majority of Israeli Arabs have absolutely no interest in collaborating with Hezbollah, and the collaborators are a small minority, a Shin Bet official said. The fact that Hezbollah has to make use of drug smuggling networks is a sign of its weakness, the official added.
http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=5342

Egypt army kills 20 terrorists in Sinai

Egyptian military troops and jets killed 20 terrorists in the Sinai region bordering Israel on Wednesday, striking back after armed men attacked several security checkpoints, an army commander in Sinai told Reuters.

"We have succeeded in entering al-Toumah village, killed 20 terrorists and destroyed three armored cars belonging to terrorists. Operations are still ongoing," he told Reuters.

The military offensive follows attacks on Sunday that killed 16 border guards and which the government blamed partly on Islamist militants. The commander said the army had received information that many militants were in al-Toumah village.

Security officials said the military also carried out separate attacks just outside Sheikh Zuwayed.

Witnesses in Sheikh Zuwayed, about 10 km (six miles) from Gaza, said they saw two military jets and heard sounds of explosions. Other witnesses in a nearby area said they saw three cars hit.

The strikes follow clashes between armed men and security forces at several security checkpoints in the Sinai region.

Armed men opened fire on several checkpoints in Arish and in the nearby town of Rafah on the border with Israel, according to a Reuters reporter and state media.

A Reuters reporter said one policeman and one resident had been confirmed wounded in these attacks.

Lawlessness in the rugged desert region bordering Israel has spread since the fall of autocratic leader Hosni Mubarak in an uprising 18 months ago and the election of an Islamist successor whose commitment to security cooperation with the Jewish state has yet to be tested.

One of the checkpoints attacked on Wednesday has been attacked 28 times since the uprising, the state-funded Middle East News Agency said.

Protesters demand state protection

A few hours after the eruption of the clashes, hundreds of protesters gathered in Arish demanding state protection and chanting "God is Great."

Security forces closed Arish's main highway shortly after the start of the attacks.

Earlier on Tuesday, crowds of angry mourners wept at the military funeral in Cairo of the 16 guards killed in what was the deadliest assault in decades along Egypt's tense Sinai Peninsula border with Israel and Gaza.

In reaction to Sunday's attacks, Egypt began to seal off smuggling tunnels into the Gaza Strip, a security source said.

A Reuters reporter in Rafah said heavy equipment was brought to the Egyptian side of the tunnels, which are used to smuggle people to and from Gaza as well as scarce food and fuel for the small territory's population.
http://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/ArticleLayout/CdaArticlePrintPreview/1,2506,L-4265912,00.html
Don't get me wrong killing terrorist is a good thing, and good for Egypt for doing it.

Bad for the future in my opinion that we are allowing Egyptian gun ship helicopters and fighter jets into the Sinai.

Are we crazy?

If any nation has to put heavy weapons into the Sinai, it must be Israel and not Egypt.

Now having said that.

If the reason we are letting Egypt do the heavy lifting right now is that we need to focus on Iran and we will be hitting Iran soon.

Egypt's Brotherhood: Mossad behind Sinai attack

Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood said on its website that the attack on a police station in Sinai on Sunday in which 16 policemen were killed "can be attributed to Mossad" and was an attempt to thwart Islamist President Mohamed Morsi's new regime.

The statement claimed that the Israeli intelligence agency was trying to hinder the Egyptian uprising that toppled president Hosni Mubarak in 2011 and that it was "imperative to review clauses" of the 1979 peace treaty between Egypt and Israel.

Israel dismissed the claim: "Even the person who says this when he looks at himself in the mirror does not believe the nonsense he is uttering," Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor said.

Egypt deployed at least two helicopter gunships to the Sinai Peninsula in the hunt for terrorists behind the terror attack.

Morsi, who visited the scene on Monday vowed to bring the terrorists to justice, while Cairo officials added that if need be, "We'll strike Gaza, as well."

Hamas rulers in Gaza are wary of an Egyptian response to the border attack, as other than the military implications of such retaliation, Egypt turning its back on the Gaza Strip is one of the worst case scenarios for the Strip's government.

Gaza's rulers are likely to mount their own manhunts and boast any arrests made as show of both strength and cooperation.

Meanwhile, Egyptian presidential spokesman Yasser Ali said Monday that the relations between the Egyptian government and Hamas "will not be affected by the horrible crime against Egyptian soldiers yesterday."

He added that for the time being, closing the Rafah crossing was "essential to security."
http://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/ArticleLayout/CdaArticlePrintPreview/1,2506,L-4265316,00.html

West Bank summit scrapped after Israel blocks envoys

Israel refuses to admit representatives from four states with which it has no diplomatic relations • The envoys were due to sign a declaration backing the Palestinians ahead of their renewed campaign to upgrade their status at U.N. next month.
Reuters

A meeting of envoys from the Non-Aligned Movement due to convene in the West Bank on Sunday had to be scrapped after Israel refused to admit four representatives from states with which it has no diplomatic relations, Palestinian officials said.

The envoys were due to sign a declaration backing the Palestinians ahead of their planned campaign to get the U.N. to upgrade their status from that of "observer entity" to non-member observer state when the General Assembly convenes on Sept. 27.

Israel barred the foreign ministers of Malaysia and Indonesia, as well as the ambassadors of Cuba and Bangladesh, on the grounds the four countries do not recognize the Jewish state.

Palestinian officials said the other conference guests, including the foreign ministers of Egypt and Zimbabwe, were granted clearance to attend but declined in solidarity with the barred envoys.

"The goal of this decision, which was issued at the highest political echelons in Israel, is to thwart the efforts of the Palestinian leadership to achieve more successes for the benefit of Palestinians and its efforts to end the occupation," Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki told reporters.

The Non-Aligned Movement is a diplomatic bloc founded during the Cold War to advocate the causes of the developing world.

Israel was unapologetic about its decision. "We have cleared entry for representatives of countries which have diplomatic relations with Israel and we have not cleared those which do not," Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor said.

Israel controls access to the West Bank, which can be reached via the main checkpoint outside Jerusalem on the road from the Ben-Gurion International Airport, or at the Allenby Bridge over the Jordan River, on the road from Amman.

The U.N. criticized the Israeli action, saying it undermined the interim peace agreements which entitled Palestinians to autonomy in a small part of the West Bank, called Area A.

"Denying the Palestinian Authority the ability to engage with members of the international community in Area A is yet another step that contradicts the credibility of the Oslo arrangements which affirm the Palestinian right of self-government," U.N. Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Robert Serry said in a statement.

The decision to exclude the envoys came a day after the Palestinian Authority announced it would resume its bid for upgraded status at the U.N., a campaign strongly opposed by Israel and the U.S.

The planned drive for non-member observer status, akin to the Vatican's, would be an indirect recognition of Palestinian claims on statehood in the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza Strip. It would allow them to join a number of U.N. agencies and the International Criminal Court.

Once that status was achieved, the Palestinians would pursue full U.N. membership, Malki said on Saturday.

Israel views Palestinian attempts to bolster their standing at the U.N. and in other diplomatic bodies as hostile, saying there was no substitute for direct negotiation in solving the Middle East conflict.

Hanan Ashrawi, of the Palestine Liberation Organization's executive committee, decried Israel's barring of envoys on Sunday, saying it "exploits its position as an occupying power to prevent Palestine from communication with the countries of the world and to isolate the Palestinian people and its institutions."

She called the Israeli decision "a blatant and crude exercise of power and a form of political siege."

Twelve envoys from the Non-Aligned Movement's Palestine Commission were due to meet on Sunday, in advance of an annual meeting of the whole organisation in Iran at the end of the month.

"Nothing constructive, to say the very least, has ever come out of this committee in the past, and now that it is going to meet in Iran under the chairmanship of Tehran, expectations could not be lower," Palmor said.
A good start, now remove NGO's that are anti Israel from all of Israel.

Now For The Truth

August 03, 2012

MERF

For those who would like to hear me on the radio, I am very pleased to announce that I will be having a weekly appearance on the Middle East Radio Forum, the show is hosted By William Wolf.

The time of the show is 3pm EDT, 12 noon Pacific, 10pm Israel, every Sunday. Please feel free to call in if you have any questions about my weekly comments. If you should happen to miss the show then you can go to the MERF web page and listen to me and other guest in the archives.

HU Great Job

The Scientist' slots Hebrew University of Jerusalem at number 9 worldwide; HU only institution named in top 25.
Hebrew University, Jerusalem Photo: Thinkstock/Imagebank

Universities are ranked not only on the level of their research and the size of their student bodies and faculties, but also according to whether they are a good place to work. Now The Scientist magazine’s 10th annual Best Places to Work in Academia survey has placed the Hebrew University of Jerusalem at No. 2 outside the US.

HU was the only Israeli institution included among the top 25, and the magazine ranked it the ninth-best place to work in academia worldwide.
Related:

HU contest touts tortoise over hare

For the past 10 years, The Scientist’s Best Places to Work in Academia surveys have asked academic researchers to highlight the aspects of work they value the most, as well as areas in which they wish their institutions would improve.

More than 1,000 full-time life scientists working in academic or non-commercial research institutions responded to this year’s survey. The full survey results and methodology are detailed in the magazine’s August issue and on its web site.

HU president Prof. Menahem Ben-Sasson welcomed the ranking.

“I thank the members of the academic community, because of whom we find ourselves perpetually ranked among the world’s leading universities,” he said.

“This demonstrates that a community in which it is pleasant to work is also one in which one sees outstanding academic achievements. It is because of the sense of partnership and responsibility of all of our staff that we continually achieve this leading academic ranking. I congratulate my colleagues on this external recognition of their achievements here at home.”

The Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (CeMM) took first place outside the US. The J. David Gladstone Institutes in San Francisco, California came in first place overall.

HU, which has more than 23,000 students from over 65 countries, carries out 40 percent of the country’s civilian research.

Tell me what place did University of Gaza come in?

It is kind of hard to be a great place to work, when the scientist teaching for you are bomb makers in their spare time.

But then I guess, we get back to that culture thing that Romney spoke of.

How can the world be so blind as to the differences between a great little country with a great culture and a bunch of terrorist that want to destroy the nice place.

August 02, 2012

Next War: Civilians Under Massive Fire

Published on: August 2, 2012

The Home Front Command was founded 20 years ago, after the Gulf War. Over the years, it has worked to prepare civilians for emergency situations — especially the imminent threat of unconventional warfare. To date, four battalions specializing in ABC warfare have been founded, and more soldiers are constantly being recruited.
IDF Home Front Command during an unconventional rocket attack drill

“Today, the goal of our enemy is to exhaust the Israeli population and to weaken our strength as a nation through the use of explosives. Civilians will have to endure prolonged periods of time in bomb shelters, and suffer a harsh blow to their daily lives as well as the economic strength of the country.”

Congress considers recognizing Jewish refugees

By JTA
02/08/2012
Bill calls on Obama to pair references to Palestinian refugees with plight of 850,000 Jewish refugees from Arab countries.

WASHINGTON - A bipartisan group of six Congress members is sponsoring a bill that would ensure recognition of the plight of 850,000 Jewish refugees displaced from Arab countries since Israel's War of Independence in 1948.

Their bill in the US House of Representatives also would recognize other displaced populations, including Christians from countries in the Middle East, North Africa and the Persian Gulf.

The legislation specifically calls on the Obama administration to pair any explicit reference to Palestinian refugees with a similar reference to Jewish or other refugee populations.

“The suffering and terrible injustices visited upon Jewish refugees in the Middle East needs to be acknowledged,” said US Rep. Jerrod Nadler (D-N.Y.), the lead sponsor of the measure. “It is simply wrong to recognize the rights of Palestinian refugees without recognizing the rights of nearly one million Jewish refugees who suffered terrible outrages at the hands of their former compatriots.”

“Jewish refugees who were forced to flee Arab countries and Iran endured unimaginable hardships,” Ros-Lehtinen said in a news release sent to JTA. “Their plight has been ignored by the United Nations, other international bodies and many responsible nations. Any comprehensive Middle East peace agreement can only be credible and enduring if it resolves all issues related to the rights of all refugees in the Arab world and Iran, including Jews, Christians and others.”

Both B’nai B’rith International and the World Jewish Congress were among those who applauded the proposed legislation.

“We want to ensure that the United States makes the rights of Jewish refugees from Arab nations a priority in multilateral discussions about the Middle East conflict," said Eric Fusfield, B’nai B’rith’s international director of legislative affairs. "Any time refugee issues are discussed in the context of the peace negotiations, the rights of Jewish refugees need to be given their proper place.”

Justice for Jews from Arab Countries has been pushing the issue for many years and was instrumental in obtaining a House resolution on the matter in 2008. The resolution noted that for any “comprehensive Middle East peace agreement to be credible and enduring, the agreement must address and resolve all outstanding issues relating to the legitimate rights of all refugees, including Jews, Christians and other populations displaced from countries in the Middle East.”

August 01, 2012

Light Once Again To The World

The development opens the way for patients to have broken bones repaired or even replaced with entire new ones grown outside the body from a patient's own cells.

The researchers started with stem cells taken from fat tissue. It took around a month to grow them into sections of fully-formed living human bone up to a couple of inches long.

The first trial in patients is on course to be conducted later this year, by an Israeli biotechnology company that has been working with academics on the technology.

Professor Avinoam Kadouri, head of the scientific advisory board for Bonus BioGroup, said: "There is a need for artificial bones for injuries and in operations.

"We use three dimensional structures to fabricate the bone in the right shape and geometry. We can grow these bones outside the body and then transplant it to the patient at the right time.

"By scanning the damaged bone area, the implant should fit perfectly and merge with the surrounding tissue. There are no problems with rejection as the cells come from the patient's own body."

The technology, which has been developed along with researchers at the Technion Institute of Research in Israel, uses three dimensional scans of the damaged bone to build a gel-like scaffold that matches the shape.

Stem cells, known as mesenchymal stem cells, which have the capacity to develop into many other types of cell in the body, are obtained from the patient's fat using liposuction.

These are then grown into living bone on the scaffold inside a "bioreactor" – an automated machine that provides the right conditions to encourage the cells to develop into bone.

Already animals have successfully received bone transplants. The scientists were able to insert almost an inch of laboratory-grown human bone into the middle section of a rat's leg bone, where it successfully merged with the remaining animal bone.

The technique could ultimately allow doctors to replace bones that have been smashed in accidents, fill in defects where bone is missing such as cleft palate, or carry out reconstructive plastic surgery.

Professor Kadouri said work was also under way to grow the soft cartilage at the ends of bones, which is needed if entire bones are to be produced in a laboratory.

Bone grafts currently involve taking bits of bone from elsewhere in the patients body and transplanting them to the area which is damaged to encourage healing.

More than 250,000 bone grafts are performed in the UK each year, including repairs to damaged jaws and the replacement of bone lost in operations to remove tumours.

This technique requires the patient to undergo two traumatic operations. In other cases bone is obtained from donations, but can be rejected by the body.

As the new technique uses cells from the patient's own body, it reduces the chance of the new bone being rejected.

Dr Shai Meretzki, chief executive of Bonus BioGroup, added that they hoped to develop the technology in the future to provide replacements for damaged joints such as hips.

He said: "It is the same type of technology, but the equipment would be different for bigger bones."

A number of research teams around the world are developing techniques for regrowing bone using stem cells, but most have used a different kind of stem cell and injected them into the patient rather than growing them into bones outside the body for transplant.

Professor Alicia El Haj, head of the regenerative medicine group at Keele University, has been involved in clinical trial using cells taken from cartilage and has treated 450 patients with the technique. Her team has started conducting trials to repair gaps in patient's bones using cells from bone marrow.

She said: "Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells are much less common when used medically, but are easier to obtain.

"There are a lot of people coming up with cells that can be used to repair bone but there are not many progressing to produce tissues that can be grown outside of the body and used clinically.

"If a company is starting to do this, then it is an important step."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/9321330/Human-bones-grown-from-fat-in-laboratory.html

I wonder when we can just say Romney was right Israeli culture is great and Palestinian culture not so great?

He said last week's visit to the Auschwitz by Ziad al-Bandak, an adviser to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, went against Palestinian public opinion. Abbas and Hamas are political rivals.

Al-Bandak, who advises Abbas on Christian affairs, visited prisoner blocs, gas chambers and a crematorium in the Auschwitz-Birkenau complex that the Germans built and operated in southern Poland during their World War II occupation of the country.

Some 1.5 million people, mostly Jews, were killed in the camp from 1940-45.

Al-Bandak, a Christian, came on an invitation from a private Polish foundation promoting tolerance.

In 2007, the Palestinian and the Israeli ambassadors to Poland made a joint visit to the memorial.

Some 6 million Jews were killed in the German Nazi genocide during World War II, including in Auschwitz in Nazi-occupied Poland.
http://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/ArticleLayout/CdaArticlePrintPreview/1,2506,L-4263495,00.html
Enough said, you really think peace is more than a fantasy.